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Television today is not what it once was. In its golden era, television offered program on three networks—NBC, CBS, and ABC. Thanks to the advances of cable, satellite, and even streaming video, audiences have more options than ever when it comes to what to watch. The problem with having so many options is that considering all of the said options, there really aren’t many options. The comedies and dramas are overly laden with sex and violence. And their scripts are largely cookie cutter across the board. The reality series that are just as prevalent are just as soulless. Thankfully those that yearn for something better will receive just that next week when Shout! Factory, the leading name in home entertainment, releases the eighth and final season of the classic series Quincy, M.E. Filled out by a total of twenty-four episodes, this final collection from one of television’s greatest classic series will impress audiences regardless of their familiarity with the show. The most obvious reason that reason the viewers will enjoy this season so much is the work of the show’s writers. The level of sex and violence that has become so commonplace among today’s TV shows is not there in any of these episodes just as with the episodes that made up the series’ previous seven seasons. The social issues that were often put at the center of the show’s episodes in its previous seasons are here, too. There is even an interesting development in Quincy’s own life as he develops a new romantic relationship that leads to a wedding near the season’s end. There’s much more that could be noted including the writers possibly poking fun at themselves early on in this season’s run, and some semi –fantastical stories to balance things out along the way. In the same vein, the cast’s interpretation of the scripts (its acting) is just as solid eight seasons in as in the series’ debut season. Unlike the acting on the part of casts from so many other shows of the time, this cast shows no sign of over-the-top hamming it up or over acting. Considering the show’s long run, that says a lot. Rounding out the reasons that Quincy, M.E.’s eighth season is a success is the look and sound of the footage. A little more than thirty years has passed since Quincy, M.E. ended its run. Considering that, the footage presented in the show’s looks and sounds just as impressive as that presented in the series’ previous season sets. It is the last factor to consider in examining what makes Quincy, M.E.: The Final Season one more welcome addition to the library of anyone looking for an escape from the heartless, soulless shows that currently dominate television’s ranks today. They also show collectively why this set is an early candidate for any critic’s list of the year’s best new box sets for grown-up audiences.

Quincy, M.E.: The Final Season is, as noted, an early candidate for any critic’s list of this year’s best new box sets for grown-up audiences. That is because the standards that were established within the show throughout the course of its previous seven seasons are carried on throughout the course of this season’s twenty-four total episodes. One of those standards is the series’ solid writing. Unlike so many of today’s crime dramas and medical procedurals, Quincy, M.E. maintained itself as more than just another one of those shows right from its debut season. Now in its final season, that standard was held as strong as ever. The show’s writers continued to tackle important social issues that are just as relevant today as they were so long ago in the show’s original run. They do also incorporate some slightly more fantastical story lines to balance out that social awareness that is so obvious throughout the series now in its final run. Right from the season’s premiere, the writers show that they haven’t let up by tackling the issues of gang violence and racial bias all in one without letting either topic step on the other. The writers also take on the issues of alcoholism, medical malpractice, and government influence on the drug industry. These are some pretty heavy topics for a show such as Quincy, M.E. to tackle. but the show’s writers handle each topic with the utmost professionalism and believeability. Even more intriguing is that all of these topics are raised in the first of the set’s six discs. Throughout the rest of the season’s runs, the issues of teen suicide, problems within the foster care system and much more. Those wanting something a little less provocative are given the growing romance and eventual marriage (yes, marriage) between Dr. Quincy and the newly introduced psychiatrist Dr. Emily Hanover (Anita Gillette) throughout Season 8. Her introduction serves to show a different side of Quincy than audiences familiar with the series are used to seeing. Audiences get to see more of his more emotionally vulnerable side instead of the strong, steadfast resolve shown throughout the series’ previous seasons. It’s just one more welcome addition to this season’s run that along with the other, deeper episodes, makes Season 8 truly enjoyable and a valid candidate for any critic’s list of the year’s best new box sets for grown-up audiences.

The writing that went into Quincy, M.E.: The Final Season goes a long way toward making it another welcome addition to the library of any fan of this hit series. The same can be said of the acting on the part of the series’ cast. While shows from the 1970s and 1980s weren’t overly laden with sex and violence, far too many of them were marred by acting that was awful to say the least. The acting on the part of Quincy, M.E.’s cast eight seasons in is the polar opposite of that from those series. As a matter of fact, star Jack Klugman and his co-stars show the utmost professionalism and seriousness from season premiere to series finale. It would have been so easy for the cast to just dial it in especially as long as the show had been on television by the time this season aired. But not one member of the cast let up. the end result is acting that makes suspension of disbelief so easy. And coupled with the solid work of the show’s writers, both elements will keep audiences new and old alike enthralled in every episode. Yet again, it proves to be another way in which Quincy, M.E. shows itself a valid, early candidate for a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s best new box sets for grown-up audiences by year’s end.

The work of Quincy, M.E.’s writers and cast members collectively shows without a doubt why Quincy, M.E. was such a popular season for so long. And it is no doubt with the upcoming release of its eighth season it will regain even more that popularity that it boasted in its original broadcast. Much the same can be said once more of the look and sound of each episode’s footage. Considering that over three decades have passed since Quincy, M.E. went off the air and almost forty years have passed since it first premiered on NBC in 1976, the look and sound of the show’s footage is surprisingly impressive. Yet again, it is a tribute to the work of those charged with bringing the series back to life for both its original audiences and a whole ew generation of fans. And it is one more tribute to Shout! Factory’s dedication to excellence for audiences, proving yet again why Shout! Factory remains today the leading name in home entertainment. It is also more reason for any critic to include Quincy, M.E.:The Final Season on his or her list of the year’s best new box sets for grown-up audiences come December.

Whether for the work of the show’s writers, its cast members, or the overall production values presented here, Quincy, M.E.: The Final Season boasts plenty of positives. By themselves, each of the noted positives plays its own important role in the enjoyment and success of this final season of Quincy, M.E. Collectively, they make Season 8 a must have for any fan of Quincy, M.E. and any fan of classic television in general. Quincy, M.E.: The Final Season will be available on DVD next Tuesday, March 10th in stores and online for retail price of $39.97. It can be pre-ordered online now for a reduced price of $34.98 via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/tv/crime/quincy-m-e-the-final-season. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online at:

People love drama. A quick look through the shows dominating both the broadcast and cable networks today proves that. The same can be said of offerings filling America’s theaters both past and present with dramas even dominating the Oscars ever since the very first Academy Awards celebration nearly ninety years ago in 1927. Given comedies, musicals, and rom-coms have picked up their own share of Oscars for the “Best Picture” since that year. But their wins have been extremely sparse. So what is wrong with this seemingly never-ending fascination with drama? The issue is that the dramas and medical procedurals that dominate television are entirely fictional. The dramas that have won so many Oscars over the past eight decades plus have been either fictional or fictional in part. The problem is that with so much fictional drama dominating television and movie theaters for so many decades, the importance of real life drama seems to have been decreased. Thankfully though, PBS’s hit history-based series Secrets of the Dead continues to prove that real life drama is just as important as all the made up material on both the small screen and the silver screen. Its new episode Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones proves that. It proves that primarily through its story of bones found in Franklin’s home in England upon renovations done on the residence back in the late 1990s. The story plays out like something right out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. The twist revealed as the story progresses will throw everyone unfamiliar with the story for a loop. The story’s pacing set against its material adds to the overall presentation. The juxtaposition of the story’s pacing to its included material will keep audiences fully engaged from start to finish. Rounding out the whole thing are the collective re-enactments, interviews, and actual footage that are used to help illustrate and advance the story. The re-enactments are kept to a minimum instead of being made the star of the show. Coupled with the video of the actual excavations and the included interviews, all three elements work in tandem to fill out the presentation and prove yet again that real life crime and medical drama can be just as gripping as the fictional material broadcast to thousands of households every week and sent to thousands of theaters every month. And together with the episode’s actual story and its pacing, everything together shows why the drama of Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones makes it a piece that every drama lover will appreciate.

Anyone that is a fan of all the fictional dramas that dominate American television and theaters will appreciate the real life drama contained in Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones. The drama comes from the story of skeletal remains found in the one-time home of Benjamin Franklin and the resultant search for clues and answers as to where the bones came from and how they got there. The bones were discovered in the late 1990s when a group of individuals was working on the house in order to turn it into a museum honoring Franklin and his legacy. The identity of the bones has never been revealed. And for those that have not yet seen this episode of Secrets of the Dead, the discovery as to the remains themselves will be left for those viewers to find out for themselves. Even more shocking to learn is the semi-criminal link to how the bodies got to the home and the purpose for which the bodies were used. It’s wild to think that as dark as everything presented in the story seems, if not for the revelations made in this episode of Secrets of the Dead, the advances made in the medical field today might never have happened. As the old adage states: truth is stranger than fiction. And because it is so much stranger than fiction, any lover of drama on television and in movies will be just as entertained by this episode of Secrets of the Dead as they would by those fictional dramas.

The story presented in Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones is just as gripping a drama as anything that could ever be written for an episode of Law & Order, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy or any other crime drama and medical procedural. The difference between this episode and those of the noted shows is that the story presented in Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones is real. It proves the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction. And because of that it makes this episode just as entertaining as anything on television and in theaters today. As enthralling as the story in this episode proves to be in the end, the information in the story is only part of what makes it work. The story’s pacing works in tandem with its in-depth information to keep the program moving forward and interesting at the same time. No time is wasted ruminating on one aspect of the story or another more than others. Rather, equal time is offered to every part of the presentation from the discussions on the excavation and resultant research to the re-enactments to the interviews, every part of this episode receives just enough time to keep audiences engaged from start to finish, waiting on the edge of their seats to find out the next revelation. Along with the story at the center of this episode, it and its pacing combine to strengthen the episode even more and prove even more clearly why any fan of television and theatrical dramas should watch this episode of Secrets of the Dead just as much as those fictional presentations.

The story presented in Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones and its pacing are both key to the enjoyment of this program. Both elements work together to make the story just as entertaining and as gripping as anything ever churned out by the writers at CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, or Law & Order: SVU. While both elements are equally important to the whole of Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones, there is still one more element to note that makes the episode complete. That element in question is the episode’s collective interviews, re-enactments, and actual excavation footage. These three parts make up the body of this episode’s story. And thanks to the work of those behind the episode, all three elements are given just enough time to keep things interesting. It goes right back to the show’s pacing and in turn the work of the show’s writers to keep the pacing just enough that none of the noted elements dominates the program. Had one of them dominated, it might have hindered the show and in turn made it far less interesting and enjoyable than it is. Luckily that didn’t prove to be the case. And the end result of that is an episode of Secrets of the Dead that proves again to be just as interesting and engaging as any of the major dramas on television and in theaters today. It proves to be a piece that any drama fan will appreciate just as much as those offerings.

Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones is one of the best episodes that the hit PBS series has produced to date. Whether for the in-depth information shared throughout the program, its pacing, the surprise twist revealed through the program’s in-depth information or for another reason, it proves to be just as entertaining as any crime drama and medical procedural on television and in theaters today. Some might even argue that being a real life crime drama and medical procedural in one, it is even more entertaining than said offerings on television and in theaters Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones will be available on DVD on Tuesday, March 17th. It can be pre-ordered direct from PBS’ online store now at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=57131096&cp=&sr=1&kw=secrets+of+the+dead&origkw=Secrets+of+the+Dead&parentPage=search. Audiences can check out a clip from this episode of Secrets of the Dead online now via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pkQeQJU9eU. More information on this and other episodes of Secrets of the Dead is available online now at:

Every year, any number of classic movies is re-issued on DVD and Blu-ray. The re-issues range from modern movies that come from the latter part of the 20th Century (the 1980s and beyond) and those that come from Hollywood’s golden era (the 1970s and before). Among that yearly mass of movies, some are sort of memorable. And then there are those that prove to be must have movies for any true movie buff. While 2015 is still very young, already one movie has been released that is more than deserving of the title of a must have for any movie buff. The movie in question is the 1942 classic RKO Pictures movie Syncopation. It was re-issued on Blu-ray and DVD February 10th via Cohen Media Group. Syncopation is a must have not just for any true-blooded movie buff but for any true-blooded lover of music (and more specifically jazz). While it has never been known as one of the major blockbusters of Hollywood’s golden age, it is still a wonderful work. The main element of this movie that makes it a must have for any true-blooded movie buff and lover of music is its story. Writers Philip Yordan, and Frank Cavett have crafted a tale from Valentine Davies’ original story that bucks the general trend of most romantic movies. Rather than putting the script’s romantic plot line at the center of the story, they instead make the movie’s music the center of the story. It is the central element off of which the story’s romantic subplot works for its own development. And just as the story’s essentially inverted story makes the movie enjoyable, so do the transitions used throughout the story. Audiences are presented with solid scene transitions throughout the movie’s nearly ninety-minute run time that make the movie’s central story easy to follow. The end result is a story that will not only entertain viewers but is also easy to follow. In turn, it will keep viewers engaged from beginning to end and is sure to, again, show why this movie is a must have for any true-blooded movie buff and lover of music. The largely original story and its easily followed transitions are both key elements of what makes Syncopation a must have for any true-blooded movie buff and lover of music. If they are not enough reason, collectively speaking, for audiences to pick up this golden age re-issue, the footage and performances included with the movie as bonus material is sure to convince audiences. Cohen Media Group has included as bonus material a number of classic recordings from the likes of Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and others that equals out to roughly nearly an hour and a half in itself. The recordings in question are taken from their original tapes. And being that they have not been re-mastered, they look just as they did nearly a century ago. And that is not a bad thing, either. As a matter of fact, it helps the overall presentation of Syncopation in terms of taking audiences back in time. It is a wonderful feeling brought on by both that bonus footage and the movie together is a realization that Cohen Media Group’s new re-issue of Syncopation is indeed a must have for any true-blooded movie buff and music lover and one of this year’s best new re-issues.

Syncopation is one of the best new re-issues of 2015 and a must have for any true-blooded movie buff and music lover. This movie was never one of the bigger names from Hollywood’s golden era. But it is still a wonderful classic that any movie buff and lover of classic movies and music will love. The main reason for this is the movie’s story. Crafted by co-writers Philip Yordan and Frank Cavett, the movie takes a route not very often taken by screenwriters both past and present. Instead of just being another romance movie, Syncopation makes its romance story secondary while putting the evolution of America’s greatest music front and center. From the Dixieland and blues sound of New Orleans to the more up-tempo sounds of Chicago’s jazz scene and more, audiences get to hear for themselves the roots of the jazz community. Even better for audiences is that jazz legends Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Harry James, and Charlie Barnet all get some screen time along the way. Getting to see and hear these legends perform makes for an excellent introduction to them and their music for those that might not be so familiar with them or their work. It could be a doorway into a whole new world of music for that matter. And for those that are more familiar with them and their music, it is that much more reason to add this movie to their home collections.

The musical elements of Syncopation’s story more than make this movie worth the watch by anyone that has any love of classic movies and the rich history of Hollywood’s golden era. They are just part of the story’s whole, of course. They are the base on which the movie’s secondary romance story sits. The romance side of the story follows Kit Latimer (Bonita Granville) from her childhood in New Orleans to her adult life finding love, losing that love because of war, and learning to love again afterward. Director William Dieterlie didn’t allow this subplot to overpower the movie’s central story honoring what is America’s music, instead balancing both elements together. The end result is a story that proves to be unlike so many other romance stories both of its age and Hollywood’s current era and in turn one of the perhaps most underrated movies in Hollywood’s history. It is one that any true lover of movies and music should add to their collections should they not already own it.

The dual-lined story that serves as the body of Syncopation makes for plenty of reason for any movie buff and music lover to add it to their personal movie libraries. They are but a tiny portion of what makes it worth the purchase, too. Throughout the course of the movie’s story, director William Dieterlie and those behind the cameras make following the story especially easy thanks to the story’s scene transitions. The scene transitions are smooth dissolves. There is no jumping from point to point. Audiences will see this as Kit leaves her childhood behind in New Orleans for her new home. They will see it just as clearly when America is pulled into Work War I and the man she loves goes off to fight for her country, and after the death of her childhood nanny Ella. The examples could go on and on. But it should be clear just how Dieterlie used this effect to help advance the story. And because he used them when and where he did, it went a long way toward keeping audiences engaged from beginning to end thus making for even more reason for true-blooded movie lovers and music lovers to pick up this movie’s much deserved re-issue.

The writing that went into Syncopation is key to its success and enjoyment. Yordan and Cavett are to be commended for the way in which they balanced the movie’s two separate plot lines. Dieterlie’s handling of the transitions (and that of those charged with assembling the final product) is just as important to the whole of Syncopation. Both parts are integral to the enjoyment of the story in whole. On another branch, the presentation that is Syncopation’s re-issue is made all the more enjoyable thanks to the recordings that make up the movie’s bonus features. Cohen Media Group has included a total of nine classic recordings featuring some of the greatest names in jazz. The names in question include: Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and a handful of others. The recordings are presented exactly as they were in their original presentations nearly a century ago. They look and sound surprisingly good considering the fact that well over eighty years have passed since they were originally recorded. Their collective run time comes to almost an hour and a half if not more than that, with the shortest (Jazz A La Cuba w/ Don Aspiazu) coming in at five minutes and nineteen seconds. The longest (St Louis Blues w/ Bessie Smith) comes in at fifteen minutes and forty-one seconds. The recordings aren’t just audio tracks, either. They are actual audio/visual recordings that tell stories alongside the songs. And they will definitely keep audiences engaged even by themselves. Lena Horne even makes an appearance in one recording, singing ‘Stormy Weather.’ She is presented singing her song inside a house, rain falling on the window. The pain in her voice as she sings against that backdrop makes the classic gives the song so much emotional punch. The other bonus recordings offer their own entertainment, too. And audiences will see that for themselves when they pick up Syncopation for themselves whether on DVD or Blu-ray. It is yet another reason that Syncopation’s new re-issue is a must-have for any true-blooded movie buff and music lover. What’s more it is that much more way in which it proves itself one of this year’s best new re-issues. Together with the work of the movie’s writing team and the work of those behind the cameras, it proves that without even the slightest shadow of a doubt.

Syncopation proves in its brand new DVD and Blu-ray re-issue that it is one of the best new re-issues of 2015. It proves to be a piece that any true-blooded movie buff and music lover should have in their own home libraries. It proves this through the solid work of co-writers Philip Yordan and Frank Cavett. It proves this just as much through the story’s scene transitions. they make both of the movie’s story elements entertaining and interesting for audiences. The bonus classic recordings that were unearthed for this re-issue make its presentation whole. That is thanks to the surprisingly impressive quality of their audio and video. The combination of all of these elements makes crystal clear why Syncopation is such a welcome re-issue. Their combination shows without a doubt why it is one of this year’s best new re-issues and a work that every true-blooded movie buff and music lover should have in his or her home movie collection. It is available now in stores and online. Audiences can check out a trailer from the movie and check out the movie’s image gallery online at https://cohenmedia.net/films/syncopation. A link to Amazon and iTunes is also available at this website for those looking to order or download the movie online. More information on this and other titles from Cohen Media Group is available online at:

Major League Baseball’s 2015 season is just around the corner and in celebration, ESPN announced this week, its first official slate of games for this year’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell schedule.

This year’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell schedule kicks off Sunday, April 5thwith a matchup of National League foes St. Louis and Chicago. St. Louis will be on the road against the Cubs in the season’s first Sunday night broadcast. The following Sunday, April 12th, the Boston Red Sox make one of its annual trips up to New York to face their hated foes the New York Yankees. In week three, the Reds hit the road in an NL Central battle against the St. Louis Cardinals. And it’s the annual “Subway Series” between the Mets and Yankees in week four with the Mets leaving the safety of Shea Stadium to face the Yanks. Things only heat up from there as the season progresses. Dan Shulman will have the call for each week’s broadcast beginning at 8pm ET. He will be joined by analysts Curt Schilling and John Kruk, and reporter Buster Olney. Each week’s broadcast is preceded by ESPN’s weekly pre-game show Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown presented by Chevrolet at 7pm ET.

Those that won’t be near a television on Sunday nights can still catch ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell on ESPN Radio and online via WatchESPN. Broadcasts are also available in Spanish for ESPN’s Spanish-speaking audiences via ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes Radio. ESPN’s current Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell schedule is listed below.

Forty-five years ago writer/director George A. Romero and co-writer John A. Russo brought to the world a little horror flick titled Night of the Living Dead. At the time that Romero ad Russo’s movie debuted few if any studios at any level were putting out horror movies of its ilk. In the decades since its debut, it has gone on to become the model for almost every horror writer and director out there. It has also gone on to be the seed for what has become one of the most popular sub-genres of the horror realm if not the most popular. Countless zombie knockoffs have been churned out in theaters ever since. And AMC’s comic book based zombie serial The Walking Dead has become one of the biggest shows on television today. With so many different zombie-centric movies and TV shows out there, it leaves one wondering how the industry can keep the success of the zombie sub-genre going without letting it get stale. Lionsgate presented one potential answer late in 2014 when it released the indie-horror flick Speak No Evil. It is quite obvious in watching Speak No Evil that it is an independent flick. But it is still a piece that is worth at least one watch by anyone that has any interest in or love of zombie flicks. The main reason for it being worth at least one watch is its story. Rather than turning adults into flesh-eating zombies, it’s the kids’ turn to take on that mantle. Adding to the interest is the fact that it is all the result of a biblical-era demon awakening from its slumber. It actually puts an interesting little twist on the far too oft used plotlines for previous zombie flicks and TV shows. And while the story itself makes the movie worth the watch, it isn’t without its flaws. The major issue with the writing comes in its continuity. The story has a tendency to jump from point to point throughout its roughly seventy-four minute run time. This proves to be somewhat problematic as it does bear the possibility of losing audiences along the way. Luckily it isn’t so problematic that it ruins the movie. That’s at least the case for those that can overlook this issue and try to keep track of everything going on. The story’s pacing is another issue that weighs down the movie. While it does keep audiences engaged, it also proves to be its own con, too. That’s because as fast as the story moves, coupled with the continuity issues, it is possible to leave audiences feeling just as lost as the continuity issues alone. And then there is the issue of the movie’s cinematography. It is just as jumpy at times as the scene transitions. All three issues together show that Speak No Evil is anything but perfect. It isn’t the worst horror flick ever released. But it also could have been better. Of course for all of the negatives found in Speak No Evil, it isn’t without its positives. One more positive that can be noted of this indie horror flick is its run time. The movie’s run time is roughly seventy-four minutes. That’s counting credits. Not counting its end credits, it clocks in at barely more than an hour. Being that its run time is so short relatively speaking, the issues that do arise throughout the movie are minimized enough to make the movie bearable and worth at least one watch. The end result in considering this is a movie that while anything but perfect deserves at least some credit for trying.

Speak No Evil is an interesting addition to the zombie world. The reason being that it isn’t necessarily the standard flick about flesh-eating zombies that audiences have seen again and again from so many other scripts. Rather than just being another one of those cookie cutter flicks, single-named writer/director Roze has crafted a story in this movie’s script that turns the attention to a younger group of individuals. He turns said younger individuals into the zombies instead of their older, adult counterparts in the case of this movie. Even more interesting is that in assembling his script, Roze has created an original way in which the children are turned into zombies. Rather than it just be some virus spread by victims being bitten, Roze’s script sees the children being turned into evil, blood-thirsty zombies by an equally evil, biblical-era demon. The demon in question wants nothing more than to cause the adults to kill the children by their own hands. Of course that does happen to a certain extent as audiences will see. It’s disturbing to say the least. But Roze is to be commended for going this route. The reason that he should be commended is the message that lies beneath it all. No parent ever wants to see harm come to their child. Yet great harm has in fact come to them. And it has led the adults in the movie’s small southwest town to do the absolutely unthinkable in order to save the town’s population. It makes for a rather interesting discussion starting point in watching this movie. If for no reason other than for Roze having taken such an original route in crafting his story, it makes Speak No Evil worth at least one watch.

The story behind Speak No Evil is in itself plenty of reason for audiences to watch this indie horror at least once. As interesting as the story makes the movie’s overall presentation, there are some obvious issues with the movie in whole that cannot be ignored. One of those issues is the movie’s continuity. Single-named writer/director Roze has crafted a script for this movie that has a severe tendency to jump around at points without any clear and concise transitions. This leaves a great possibility of losing audiences along the way. As prevalent as it is, throughout the movie’s roughly seventy-four minute run time, it is not so much of an issue that it would kill the movie altogether. That’s at least the case for anyone that can overlook this issue. So whatever script Roze works next, he should most definitely take this into consideration. In the same vein, the movie’s pacing proves to be just as much a con as a pro. The story’s pacing keeps the movie running and in turn helps to keep audiences from being too badly distracted by the script’s continuity issues. At the same time though, the pacing is just as problematic as it is positive. That is because coupled with the story’s continuity problems, it can in fact leave viewers feeling lost. It all depends on the viewer. Viewers that can manage to look past the issues of continuity and pacing are still faced with the issue of cinematography in this movie. The movie’s cinematography is just as much a problem as the pacing and continuity. That is because it works in tandem with those issues at a near breakneck speed. It’s enough to sometimes leave audiences feeling not just lost but dizzy, too. Sadly all three of these cons together take a lot away from the movie. Thankfully though, the movie’s run time makes up for that. Just like its largely original plot, the movie’s run time works to its benefit, making for at least one more reason for audiences to watch it at least once.

There is a lot to say in regards to the issues that weigh down Speak No Evil. That is obvious in the discussion noted above. For all of the issues that rise in watching this indie horror flick, they aren’t enough to make the movie completely unwatchable. That is thanks primarily to the movie’s mostly original plot. The movie’s run time is just as much to thank for its ability to keep audiences watching even despite its problems. The movie’s total run time comes in at roughly seventy-four minutes. That is counting its end credits. Sans credits, it comes in at barely more than an hour. It comes in at about an hour and maybe five minutes. So it really isn’t that long of a movie. Because it isn’t that long, the problems that do come up don’t occur so much so that they do major damage to the movie’s enjoyment. Coupled with the positive side of the movie’s pacing and its largely original plot, that run time makes the movie that much more bearable even with just a single watch. The end result of that mostly original plot and the movie’s relatively short run time is a presentation that despite its blatant issues that is worth at least one watch by any lover of both the horror realm and its zombie sub-genre.

Three years ago, Shout! Factory and Saban struck a deal that saw the first in a long line of releases from Saban’s now world-renowned Power Rangers franchise. The release in question was Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Season 1 Volume 1. It was the first but most definitely not the last of the Power Rangers franchise that fans would see finally get a proper release. Nearly three years after the release of that initial box set, Shout! Factory has seemingly come to the end of the road with the Power Rangers. That is because on March 10th, Shout! Factory will release what would be the first of the Power Rangers installments in the “post-Zordon era.” The installment in question is Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. Long-time fans of Saban’s Power Rangers franchise will especially appreciate this upcoming release primarily because it is the complete “series” set in one stand-alone box set. That is quite the noticeable change of course for Shout! Factory being that its previous seasons of Power Rangers were split up into multiple box sets. So, that Shout! Factory didn’t take that route this time is sure to impress any long-time Power Rangers fan. Second to note of this collection is the writing within the episodes. The most noticeable aspects of the “series’” writing are that while it serves as its own series separate from the original Power Rangers franchise, it also maintains at least the slightest of links to that franchise thanks to the inclusion of Bulk and Skull yet again, and of course the re-introduction of the Astro-Megaship from Power Rangers in Space. It’s sort of the writers’ way of saying the past is gone but not totally forgotten. Long-time fans will appreciate this just as much. Also, worth noting of the writing is the fact that the writers were able to keep Leo’s personal drama in check throughout the series, opting instead to allow the series’ central stories maintain their place at the forefront of each episode. Last but not least of all that makes this set so welcome is its continued use of both “live” footage and stock footage from its Japanese base series. Just like the writing mantains a link to Saban’s original Power Rangers franchise, so does this balance of footage. It rounds out the reasons that fans will want to add this set to their own collections. Together with the series’ writing and its complete complement of episodes, all three noted elements combine to make Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: The Complete Series a fitting final release from Shout! Factory’s series of releases from Saban’s original Power Rangers franchise.

Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: The Complete Series seems to be the last of Shout! Factory’s Power Rangers releases. That is unless there is a deal in place that would allow Shout! Factory to release Seasons 8 – 17, which were previously released in two separate box sets containing Seasons 8 – 12 and 13 – 17. Regardless, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: The Complete Series is still a box set well worth the addition to any Power Rangers fan’s personal collection. The most obvious reason that fans of Saban’s long-running property will appreciate this set is the very fact that it features the entire “series” in one stand-alone box set. Shout! Factory didn’t split it up into two separate sets unlike with its previous Power Rangers sets. This has been a point of contention among fans ever since Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Season 1 Volume 1 was released on DVD back in 2012. Save for the mid-season filler “series” Mighty Morphin’ Alien Rangers every other season of Power Rangers released by Shout! Factory since has been split into no less than two boxes. That being the case, having this potentially final season set released in one box is a breath of fresh air. Should the seasons that followed actually be re-issued separate from their previously released five-season box sets, hopefully they will in fact be re-issued as their own complete stand-alone sets, too just like this one. Regardless, this complete showing of episodes in one box is the cornerstone on which the rest of Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: The Complete Series’ positives rest. It is a solid cornerstone, too.

The fact that Shout! Factory has presented Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: The Complete Series is a solid starting point in examining what makes this box set a success. It’s not all that makes the set a success. The writing that went into the show’s episodes is just as worth noting. Long-time audiences will appreciate the fact that the show’s writers didn’t just make a whole new series. They actually maintained a pretty solid link to Saban’s original Power Rangers series with the inclusion once again of Bulk and Skull into various episodes including the two-part season opener. The Rangers even utilize the Astro Megaship from Power Rangers in Space throughout this season. These two elements of the show’s writing by themselves show that the writers wanted to do their best to not alienate fans that came on board way back in the days of MMPR. The actual episodes though, are just as important to the presentation. Within the episodes themselves, the show’s writers were able to balance just enough the personal drama of the Power Rangers (E.g. Leo’s coming to terms with Mike’s “death,” Archie’s dealing with Leo and the pair’s growing friendship, Cerina’s longing for her home world, etc.) with their battles against Scorpius and his evil forces. The writers never let that personal drama step on the “series’” central story line, thus creating a whole that keeps audiences fully engaged from the “series’” premiere to its final, climactic battle. The end result of that writing is yet another part of the whole of Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: The Complete Series that shows just why long-time fans of the Power Rangers will enjoy this latest release.

The inclusion of Power Rangers Lost Galaxy’s complete forty-five episode run in one complete stand-alone box set and the writing that went into the show’s episodes complement each other quite well in terms of elements that make this box set a success for fans. The show’s look is just as important to the presentation as the writing and the fact that the “series” has been presented in whole here. Both those that aren’t so familiar with the Power Rangers and the franchise’s long-time fans will appreciate that even this far into the Power Rangers’ run, will appreciate that the show’s heads once again combined new, live elements and CG along with the stock footage from its Japanese source series Seijuu Sentai Gingaman. This would be the last of the Power Rangers series to make that balance so noticeable for audiences. And it really added a certain something to the show, too. It could be argued that the balance of both elements creates once again that certain sense of old meets new that somehow creates so much enjoyment. It’s that familiar something that especially long-time fans will understand and that new fans will appreciate when they see that balance for themselves. It’s something that sadly was lost in some of the seasons that followed. The seasons in question had more of a spit-shined look about them. That look took away that certain feeling established by the previous Power Rangers seasons. Long-time fans will especially agree with that sentiment. And in doing so, they will agree even more that the use of both the original Japanese and American footage for this season completes the season, making all the more reasons for fans to add this set to their collections.

The mix of Seijuu Sentai Gingaman’s original video with Saban’s live and CG elements is a standard that long-time Power Rangers fans will definitely like about this season. The balance of the show’s writing elements adds even more reason for audiences to pick up this box set when it hits stores. It’s nice to see that the writers didn’t alienate the Power Rangers’ original audiences even in creating a new branch of the Power Rangers legacy. Rather they honored those fans and the legacy of the original series while bringing in a whole new generation of audiences with this season. The very fact that Shout! Factory presented this season in its entirety solidifies the whole thing, proving without a doubt that this is a must have for any Power Rangers fan. Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: The Complete Series will be available in stores and online Tuesday, March 10th. It will retail for $24.95 but can be pre-ordered online now for a reduced price of $19.99 at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-action-adventure/power-rangers-lost-galaxy-the-complete-series. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online at:

Anchor Bay Entertainment recently announced the upcoming home release of AMC’s hit period drama Turn–Washington’s Spies: Season 1 on DVD and Blu-ray this spring. Now not long after that announcement comes the announcement of another AMC series coming home.

Halt and Catch Fire: The Complete First Season will be released on DVD and Blu-ray + Digital HD combo pack Tuesday, May 5th. The series is a fictionalized take on the beginnings of the personal computer and those that were at the head of what would revolutionize the computer industry. It picks up one year after IBM took the world by storm with the first personal computer. It is here that former IBM exec Joe MacMillan had left the company the start his own company, Cardiff Electric. MacMillan gets friend Gordon Clark to come on board for his endeavour. It stars Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies, Guardians of the Galaxy), Scoot McNairy (Fargo), Mackenzie Davis (Smashed), Kerry Bishe (Argo, Red State), and Toby Huss (Cowboys & Aliens)

Season One is composed of ten episodes, which will be spread across three discs in both its DVD and Blu-ray + Digital HD combo pack presentation. Both sets will have a handful of bonus features including look at how those behind the cameras re-created the series’ 1980s backdrop, the rise of those at the forefront of the digital revolution in its early days, and more. the complete list of bonus features included on both sets is listed below.

Halt and Catch Fire: The Complete First Season will be available on DVD Tuesday, May 5th. The DVD box set will retail for MSRP of $49.98 and the Blu-ray + Digital HD combo pack for $59.99. More information on this and other titles from Anchor Bay Entertainment is available online at: